Hero 232a Ink?

[bokaba]

I recently purchased a bottle of Hero 232 ink on Aliexpress. I received it today, and it is a different label design labeled "232A." Is this the same iron gall ink as 232? I did a water test, and it is very permanent, but hard to tell if that is from being iron gall or some other method.

[OCArt]

Curious, I love Hero 232 but hadn't heard of a variation. You can test for iron gall by using bleach, see 

 

[bokaba]

Here are pictures of the box, bottle, and writing sample. The ink looks more blue in person. 

[Lithium466]

Does it smell like iron? 

[TSherbs]

  On 4/19/2023 at 9:39 AM, Lithium466 said:

Does it smell like iron? 

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Huh? What ink has ever smelled like iron? 

 

We Don't Smell Iron/Metal: we smell body odor

[TSherbs]

  On 4/18/2023 at 11:32 PM, bokaba said:

Here are pictures of the box, bottle, and writing sample. The ink looks more blue in person. 

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For what it is worth, this is what my "232" looks like after it is dried. It goes down a bit more blue at first, and then dries to this. 

[Lithium466]

  On 4/19/2023 at 1:15 PM, TSherbs said:

 

Huh? What ink has ever smelled like iron? 

 

We Don't Smell Iron/Metal: we smell body odor

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Well I thought all the iron gall inks I tried smelled like iron. 
So you're telling me it's not the "iron" I'm smelling. Interesting. 

[TSherbs]

My 232 smells like a chemical factory and makes me a bit nauseous if I inhale more deeply. I do not recommend inhaling the vapors above a bottle of IG ink, particularly not the Hero 232. Just my experience....

[Karmachanic]

I love the smell of IG in the morning ......

[XYZZY]

  On 4/19/2023 at 6:41 PM, Karmachanic said:

I love the smell of IG in the morning ......

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🙂

I wonder what it is that makes some quotes never seem old.

[Karmachanic]

  On 4/19/2023 at 8:47 PM, XYZZY said:

🙂

I wonder what it is that makes some quotes never seem old.

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Penclips Now seems like just the other day?

[PithyProlix]

Other colors in Hero's 23x series are now named 23xA and have updated packaging & label designs. I suspect it's merely a marketing update (speculative, of course). 

 

For examples see
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mNyla7A , for instance. To see the 23xA versions click 'Add to cart' and look through the various items that come up. 

[TSherbs]

  On 4/20/2023 at 12:45 AM, PithyProlix said:

Other colors in Hero's 23x series are now named 23xA and have updated packaging & label designs. I suspect it's merely a marketing update (speculative, of course). 

 

For examples see
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mNyla7A , for instance. To see the 23xA versions click 'Add to cart' and look through the various items that come up. 

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I see that.

 

Does that 232A box actually say blue-black on it?

[A Smug Dill]

  On 4/20/2023 at 1:35 AM, TSherbs said:

Does that 232A box actually say blue-black on it?

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[TSherbs]

Thanks, Dill. So that is a "yes."

__________________________

 

If the "A" formulation is any lighter, or more toward blue, I will be less interested in it.

 

[bokaba]

So I take it, this is safe to assume it is the same product in updated packing? The ink does have the signature metallic scent.

[A Smug Dill]

  On 4/22/2023 at 3:26 PM, bokaba said:

So I take it, this is safe to assume it is the same product in updated packing?

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I cannot in good faith advocate or endorse making that assumption.

 

If why you want to know is because you expect the ‘old’ formulation of Hero 232 ink to fulfil certain technical requirements and/or exhibit certain traits, then I'd say you should simply test whether the 232A ink fulfils those requirements independently (of whether or what the 232 ink does).

 

If you really want to know whether it's the same product as 232 ink you had before, you really need to be subjecting samples of writing done in 232 ink and in 232A ink to identical testing: water resistance tests (including soaking), paper chromatography (preferably using laboratory grade filter paper and not just a kitchen paper towel), bleach test, etc. and compare the results head to head. If you don't have, or no longer have, any 232 ink with which to establish a point of reference in terms of test results, then there's no way for you to tell.

[TSherbs]

  On 4/22/2023 at 3:26 PM, bokaba said:

So I take it, this is safe to assume it is the same product in updated packing? The ink does have the signature metallic scent.

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My assumption is that it is not the same. I don't otherwise understand why to alter the product name number.

[TSherbs]

Separately, I filled a pen recently with Hero 232 Blue-Black, and I thought to do a water test on some copy paper. Here is my test paper after soaking in water in my sink for 3 hours. Strong results for steadfastness in water. I definitely feel comfortable putting it on envelopes that may sit in a mailbox in the rain....

 

 

[Mr.Rene]

Yes It is ! 👍